Rapid changes in species composition, also known as ecotones, can result from various causes including rapid changes in environmental conditions, or physiological thresholds. The possibility that ecotones arise from ecological niche construction by ecosystem engineers has received little attention. In this study, we investigate how the diversity of ecosystem engineers, and their interactions, can give rise to ecotones. We build a spatially explicit dynamical model that couples a multispecies community and its abiotic environment. We use numerical simulations and analytical techniques to determine the biotic and abiotic conditions under which ecotone emergence is expected to occur, and the role of biodiversity therein. We show that the diversity of ecosystem engineers can lead to indirect interactions through the modification of their shared environment. These interactions, which can be either competitive or mutualistic, can lead to the emergence of discrete communities in space, separated by sharp ecotones where a high species turnover is observed. Considering biodiversity is thus critical when studying the influence of species–environment interactions on the emergence of ecotones. This is especially true for the wide range of species that have small to moderate effects on their environment. Our work highlights new mechanisms by which biodiversity loss could cause significant changes in spatial community patterns in changing environments.

中文翻译：

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通过生态位构建形成生态系统：生物多样性和物种相互作用的作用

物种组成的快速变化，也称为过渡带，可能由各种原因引起，包括环境条件或生理阈值的快速变化。生态系统工程师通过生态位构建产生生态位的可能性很少受到关注。在这项研究中，我们调查了生态系统工程师的多样性及其相互作用是如何产生交错带的。我们建立了一个空间明确的动力学模型，将多物种群落及其非生物环境结合起来。我们使用数值模拟和分析技术来确定预期出现生态过渡带的生物和非生物条件，以及生物多样性在其中的作用。我们表明，生态系统工程师的多样性可以通过修改他们共享的环境导致间接交互。这些相互作用，可以是竞争性的，也可以是互惠性的，可以导致空间中离散群落的出现，它们被尖锐的生态系统隔开，在那里观察到高物种周转。因此，在研究物种-环境相互作用对交错带出现的影响时，考虑生物多样性至关重要。对于对环境有轻微到中等影响的范围广泛的物种来说尤其如此。我们的工作强调了生物多样性丧失可能导致环境变化中空间群落格局发生重大变化的新机制。可以导致空间中离散群落的出现，它们被尖锐的生态系统隔开，在那里观察到高物种周转率。因此，在研究物种-环境相互作用对交错带出现的影响时，考虑生物多样性至关重要。对于对环境有轻微到中等影响的范围广泛的物种来说尤其如此。我们的工作突出了生物多样性丧失可能导致环境变化中空间群落格局发生重大变化的新机制。可以导致空间中离散群落的出现，它们被尖锐的生态系统隔开，在那里观察到高物种周转率。因此，在研究物种-环境相互作用对交错带出现的影响时，考虑生物多样性至关重要。对于对环境有轻微到中等影响的范围广泛的物种来说尤其如此。我们的工作突出了生物多样性丧失可能导致环境变化中空间群落格局发生重大变化的新机制。